Multicultural Beauty

Friday the FDA announced that they were giving large sunscreen manufacturers more time to comply with their new labeling regulations. The companies have been given six more months (December) and smaller companies now have until December 2013. The new regulations were supposed to go into effect June 18.

Manufacturers couldn't meet the deadline and claimed that this would cause a shortage of sunscreen on the market if they could not get the product with new labeling onto the shelves in time. So what this means is that you'll still see old labeling with misleading terms like "waterproof" and "sweat proof" which the FDA was going to ban. You can still figure out which sunscreens to choose by reading Is Your Sunscreen Really Protecting You? which has more about the sunscreen regulations.

Meanwhile, look for a product that is broad spectrum--meaning that it protects against both UVB and UVA rays. To ensure that there is UVA protection look for ingredients like zinc, titanium dioxide, avobenzone and ecamsule, and also pick a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or more (some dermatologist believe anything higher than SPF 50 is just hype).

The most important advice is don't rely on sunscreen alone to protect your skin. Read this article on Sun Safety For Multicultural Women for more sun protection tips.

I've received questions from readers about idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, commonly referred to as white spots or white age spots.

You might have the same questions and I've answered them in Why Do I Have White Spots on My Skin?

There is also more information about IGH in the article White Age Spots: How to Treat White Spots That Can Appear on Skin of Color.

Modern Family star and CoverGirl spokesperson Sofia Vergara recently attended the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in honor of the annual opening of the fashion exhibit Schiaparelli and Prada.

CoverGirl unveiled Sofia's dress and beauty look via Twitter with an exclusive behind the scenes first look.

Sofia wore a Marchesa dress, jewelry by Harry Winston, and makeup by CoverGirl, applied by celebrity makeup artist Kayleen McAdams (sister of actress Rachel McAdams).

Find out how to Get Sofia's Red Carpet Look From the Metropolitan Gala.

It's been about 30 years in the making, but the FDA finally has new regulations concerning sunscreens. Now sunscreen manufacturers have to submit to standard testing in order to make certain claims, such as "Broad Spectrum" or "Water Resistant."

Until now, sunscreen labels only informed the consumer about how much the sun protection factor (SPF) value of the product was--which was primarily for UVB rays--therefore only protecting against sunburn. But now in addition to testing for UVB, the sunscreen products must also be tested for UVA protection.

The new regulations will go into effect next month, but you've probably already seen some manufacturers sporting the new labeling. These regulations are supposed to help consumers make more informed decisions when it comes to picking sunscreens that work to protect you not only from sunburn, but also skin cancer and premature skin aging.

Need help figuring out the new labeling? Read Is Your Sunscreen Really Protecting You? (Understanding the New Sunscreen Regulations).

To celebrate Mother's Day, Carol's Daughter is offering a limited edition Memorable Mists Trio Gift Set. The set includes three 4.0 fl oz Dry Mist Oils in Almond Cookie, Orange Ambrosia and Sugared Violets. The Memorable Mists Trio is $29.50.

There are other gift sets available, including the I Am Expecting Set ($35) for the mommy-to-be. This set includes 8.0 oz Sexy Belly, 4.0 fl oz Peppermint Foot Lotion and 8.0 oz Body Jelly, for much needed pampering. The gift sets are available at Carol's Daughter stores and at CarolsDaughter.com.

And speaking of pampering, Carol's Daughter's "I Am Because You Are" contest, sponsored by Sprite, is still running on Facebook (until May 13). (As CD customers probably know, Lisa Price named her company for her mom.) The contest allows CD fans to describe their loving relationship with their mothers.

For each post Carol's Daughter has been donating $1 to Women's Fund and the American Heart Association. One grand prize winner will receive a pampering, all-expenses paid trip to a premier spa. The winner will be announced on May 13th. Visit the Carol's Daughter Facebook page for more information.

What is an "allergy face"? It's what I call a face that is plagued by dry tired, dull-looking skin, a raw, irritated nose and red watery eyes that are puffy and have dark under-eye circles all because of dreaded seasonal allergies. It looks as painful as it sounds. Fortunately, it's temporary.

Here are 12 Beauty Products to Revive a Tired Allergy-Ravaged Face.

I really loved the fact that the east coast had a mild, nearly non-existent winter. I also enjoyed the fact that spring-like weather came early. But it also meant that allergy season arrived earlier than usual.

I spent the past week suffering, and all the spring cleaning (and a long-haired cat that's shedding her winter coat) didn't help matters. My T'ai Chi instructor suggested drinking water with lemon first thing in the morning to help with my allergies. It makes sense, because water with lemon is frequently recommended first thing in the morning during a body detox and it would definitely help flush irritants and allergens out of the system.

I have that tip and more for you in my new article Beauty Tips for Allergy Sufferers.

Can't wait to try out the new summer makeup and beauty products?

I've found beauty products for under $30--eye shadows, lipsticks and nail polish--in the season's hottest colors.

And you'll also want to read:

• The Best Spring and Summer Makeup Trends

• Summer Makeup Trends for Multicultural Women

Beyonce has been named People magazine's 2012 World's Most Beautiful Woman for not only being a 16-time Grammy winner, style and beauty icon, but proud mom to daughter Blue Ivy with husband rap mogul Jay-Z.

"I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," she told the magazine, which hits the newsstands on Friday. "I've never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth."

You can get a sneak peek at People's 2012 Most Beautiful list, which also includes Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, and actress Paula Patton, plus a look at the video for Beyonce's cover shoot at People.com.

I ran across an interesting new blog called Organic Beauty Vixen. It's a "brown girl's guide to eco-glam living" written by Sherrell Dorsey, a sister from Seattle, Washington, who describes herself as an "environmental activista and overall organic product junkie."

Sherrell wanted to give up her toxic ways without giving up her love of fashion and beauty (and if you've been reading Multicultural Beauty lately, you know how many toxins can be found in beauty products).

Sherrell started OBV back in 2009 to inspire black women around the world to change their beauty, health and wellness routines to protect their long-term health and "eco-fierceness." I respect anyone who's that committed to natural living.